Even when you’re playing with a dominant center, the best way to?get them rolling is by creating easy opportunities for them. I did?that by selling the idea that I was going to shoot the ball. That?would draw defenders’ attention to me and away from Shaq. His?finish would then be simple.

So how did I go about that?

I would attack. I would penetrate. I would get all the way to the?rim. I would even leave my feet—which is fundamentally unsound—to make the defender believe I was going to try to finish. Once?they bought in, I would scoop the ball off?to Shaq.

All of this is fairly obvious, but the subtle secret to success is to get?defenders to put their hands in the air in an attempt to block your?shot. If you do that, if you really fool them into thinking they need?to contest, there’s always a nice open pocket to shovel a pass?through.

Let’s talk about the pass, too. If you’re going to go through all of?that effort to set the play up, if you’re going to get hacked and?pounded on your way to the hoop, you better make sure you don’t?mess up the last step. You have to know your big man’s preferences.?You have to know where they like to sit in the lane, how they like to?catch the ball, which hand they like to finish with.

On this play, I just had to make sure to put the pass on Shaq’s left?hand. Then he could use his body as a shield against the trailing?defender and complete the play without worrying about getting?fouled.